Chicago Shakespeare Theater celebrated the culmination of its 30th season with a grand gala June 9 at its Navy Pier home. Nearly 500 supporters enjoyed an exclusive first look at the new, in-progress theater venue, The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare, plus live performances by Grammy and Tony award-winning performers Heather Headley and Jessie Mueller.
A reception was held in the lobby before the program, and dinner began in the new space, which donned dozens of giant spheres suspended from the ceiling that changed colors throughout the night. Smaller orbs, surrounded by white peonies, topped tables.
The program opened with a video about the creation of The Yard, which began construction 15 months ago. In the video, Executive Director Criss Henderson said, “In one year alone, we now present 650 performances of 19 productions on 50 stages around the world. It’s hard to believe that the amazing growth of our first three decades could be followed by even greater opportunity.”
Barbara Gaines, CST founder and artistic director, and Henderson welcomed guests from inside one of the nine new seating towers. Gaines said, “The Yard means the world to us because it’s all about the future.” She added, “We’ve already served over 2 million students since our inception, and this will allow us to serve thousands and thousands more.” Gaines credited Henderson who, she said, had the idea for the project 10 or 12 years ago. “He’s relentless in his dreams, and that’s why we’re here,” she said.
Rick Boynton, CST creative producer, introduced Headley and Mueller as “award-winning performers who started their careers in Chicago.” In the half-hour performance, Mueller sang “Beautiful” from “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” in which she starred as King. Headley performed “Too Beautiful for Words” from “The Color Purple” soundtrack, in which she portrayed Shug. Other songs included Carole King’s “I Feel the Earth Move,” Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” and Tina Turner’s “River Deep, Mountain High.” The two also sang a moving duet from “The Color Purple,” “What About Love.”
Steve Solomon, CST board of directors chair, spoke about the impact The Yard will have on community outreach. “Our three-theater campus will allow our artists to dream bigger and our international outreach to expand. Most importantly, our service to Chicago Public Schools will almost double.” He called this year’s gala the “most successful in Chicago Shakespeare Theater history.”
Co-chaired by Carole and Gordon Segal, with Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Amy Rule serving as honorary co-chairs, the event raised $1.73 million to benefit the theater’s Chicago Shakespeare in Classrooms and Communities initiatives. These include the theater’s education programs and Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks tour.
The Yard will open its first production, a limited engagement of James Thierree’s “The Toad Knew,” on Sept. 19. “This wonderful place is where students will learn and enjoy, where families will come to share and where different cultures will come to celebrate their own heritages. It’s a place of love and empathy, brilliance and wonder,” said Gaines.
Freelance writer Candace Jordan is involved with many local organizations, including some whose events she covers.
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